PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia election officials want to be sure that voters know mail-in ballots are still a legal option for the May primary.
The City Commissioners held a news conference Thursday to clear up any misunderstanding about the status of mail-in ballots. Chair Lisa Deeley said there’s been no change in the procedure.
“Our office is proceeding as normal, mailing out permanent absentee and mail-in applications, processing mail-in ballots when they are finalized,” she explained. “Absentee and mail-in applications for those who signed up to be on the permanent list are in the mail.”
Deeley said she was concerned that voters would be confused by a recent Commonwealth Court ruling, which said the mail-in ballot legislation was unconstitutional. The decision was immediately appealed and automatically stopped from having any effect. The City Commissioners plan to file a brief in support of the appeal.
Related
“Though mail-in voting is still a frequent target of lies from those who wish the 2020 election had turned out differently, we have not seen the fraud or misuse that is alleged. Instead, we see too many barriers to voting,” she added.
Deeley said more than one-third of Philadelphia voters have used mail-in ballots since the legislation passed two years ago.
Learn more about applying for a mail-in ballot here.